Tantalum sputtering target and method for producing same

ABSTRACT

A tantalum sputtering target, wherein, on a sputtering surface of the tantalum sputtering target, an average crystal grain size is 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and a variation in a crystal grain size is 30 μm or less. A tantalum sputtering target, wherein, on a sputtering surface of the tantalum sputtering target, an orientation rate of a (200) plane exceeds 70%, an orientation rate of a (222) plane is 30% or less, an average crystal grain size is 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and a variation in a crystal grain size is 30 μm or less. By controlling the crystal grain size of the target, or the crystal grain size and the crystal orientation of the target, effects are yielded in that the discharge voltage of the tantalum sputtering target can be reduced so that plasma can be more easily generated, and the voltage drift during deposition can be suppressed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tantalum sputtering target and a method for producing such a tantalum sputtering target. In particular, the present invention relates to a tantalum sputtering target that is used for forming a Ta film or a TaN film as a diffusion barrier layer of a copper wiring in an LSI, and to a method for producing such a tantalum sputtering target.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, aluminum was used as the wiring material of semiconductor devices, but pursuant to the miniaturization and higher integration of the devices, the problem of wiring delay became an issue, and copper having smaller electrical resistance than aluminum is now being used. While copper is extremely effective as a wiring material, since copper itself is an active metal, there is a problem in that copper diffuses and contaminates the interlayer insulating film, and it is necessary to form a diffusion barrier layer made from a Ta film or a TaN film between the copper wiring and the interlayer insulating film.

Generally speaking, a Ta film or a TaN film is deposited by sputtering a tantalum target. As factors that affect the performance of a tantalum target during sputtering, it is known that the various impurities and gas components contained in the target, and the plane orientation and crystal grain size of the crystals affect the deposition rate, film thickness uniformity, generation of particles, and the like.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes improving the uniformity of the film by forming a crystal structure in which the (222) orientation is preferential from the position of 30% of the target thickness toward the central plane of the target.

Moreover, Patent Document 2 describes increasing the deposition rate and improving the uniformity of the film by causing the crystal orientation of the tantalum target to be random (no alignment to a specific crystal orientation).

Moreover, Patent Document 3 describes improving the deposition rate by selectively increasing the plane orientations of (110), (200), (211), which have a high atomic density, on the sputtering surface, and improving the uniformity by suppressing the variation in the plane orientation.

In addition, Patent Document 4 describes improving the film thickness uniformity by causing the variation in the intensity ratio of the (110) plane obtained based on X-ray diffraction, depending on the location of the sputtering surface, to be within 20%.

Moreover, Patent Document 5 describes that a round metal target having an extremely strong crystallographic texture such as (111) or (100) can be prepared by combining swaging, extrusion, rotary forging, and non-lubrication upset forging with clock rolling.

In addition, Patent Document 6 describes a method of producing a tantalum sputtering target by subjecting a tantalum ingot to forging, annealing and rolling, and, after processing the tantalum ingot into its final composition, performing annealing thereto at a temperature of 1173 K or less to obtain a tantalum sputtering target having a non-recrystallized structure of 20% or less, or 90% or less.

Moreover, Patent Document 7 discloses a technique of stabilizing the sputtering characteristics by causing the relative intensity of the peak of the sputtering surface of the target to be (110)>(211)>(200) through forging, cold rolling and other processes, and heat treatment.

In addition, Patent Document 8 describes forging a tantalum ingot, performing heat treatment two or more times during the foregoing forging process, additionally performing cold rolling, and performing recrystallization heat treatment.

Nevertheless, none of the foregoing Patent Documents describe the concept of reducing the discharge voltage of the tantalum sputtering target so that plasma can be more easily generated and suppressing the voltage drift during deposition by controlling the crystal grain size, or the crystal grain size and the crystal orientation, on the sputtering surface of the target.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No.     2004-107758 -   Patent Document 2: International Publication No. 2005/045090 -   Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No.     H11-80942 -   Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Publication No.     2002-363736 -   Patent Document 5: Japanese Translation of PCT International     Application Publication No. 2008-532765 -   Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent No. 4754617 -   Patent Document 7: International Publication No. 2011/061897 -   Patent Document 8: Japanese Patent No. 4714123

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

An object of this invention is to reduce the discharge voltage of the tantalum sputtering target so that plasma can be more easily generated, and suppress the voltage drift curing deposition by controlling the crystal grain size, or the crystal grain size and the crystal orientation, on the sputtering surface of the target.

In particular, an object of this invention is to provide a tantalum sputtering target that is effective in forming a diffusion barrier layer made from a Ta film or a TaN film capable of effectively preventing contamination around the wiring caused by the diffusion of active Cu.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to resolve the foregoing problems, the present invention provides the following invention:

1) A tantalum sputtering target, wherein, on a sputtering surface of the tantalum sputtering target, an average crystal grain size is 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and a variation in a crystal grain size is 30 μm or less.

2) A tantalum sputtering target, wherein, on a sputtering surface of the tantalum sputtering target, an orientation rate of a (200) plane exceeds 70%, an orientation rate of a (222) plane is 30% or less, an average crystal grain size is 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and a variation in a crystal grain size is 30 μm or less.

3) A tantalum sputtering target, wherein, on a sputtering surface of the tantalum sputtering target, an orientation rate of a (200) plane is 80% or more, an orientation rate of a (222) plane is 20% or less, an average crystal grain size is 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and a variation in a crystal grain size is 30 μm or less.

4) A thin film for a diffusion barrier layer formed using the sputtering target according to any one of 1) to 3) above.

5) A semiconductor device that uses the thin film for a diffusion barrier layer according to 4) above.

The present invention additionally provides:

6) A method of producing a tantalum sputtering target, wherein a molten tantalum ingot is subject to forging and recrystallization annealing, and thereafter subject to rolling and heat treatment to form a crystal structure having, on a sputtering surface of the target, an average crystal grain size of 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and a variation in a crystal grain size of 30 μm or less.

7) A method of producing a tantalum sputtering target, wherein a molten tantalum ingot is subject to forging and recrystallization annealing, and thereafter subject to rolling and heat treatment to form a crystal structure having, on a sputtering surface of the target, an orientation rate of a (200) plane that exceeds 70%, an orientation rate of a (222) plane that is 30% or less, an average crystal grain size of 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and a variation in a crystal grain size of 30 μm or less.

8) A method of producing a tantalum sputtering target according to 5) above, wherein a molten tantalum ingot is subject to forging and recrystallization annealing, and thereafter subject to rolling and heat treatment to form a crystal structure having, on a sputtering surface of the target, an orientation rate of a (200) plane that is 80% or more, an orientation rate of a (222) plane that is 20% or less, an average crystal grain size of 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and a variation in a crystal grain size of 30 μm or less.

9) The method of producing a tantalum sputtering target according to anyone of 6) to 8) above, wherein cold rolling is performed using a rolling mill roll having a rolling mill roll diameter of 500 mm or less at a rolling speed of 10 m/min or more and a reduction exceeding 80%.

10) The method of producing a tantalum sputtering target according to anyone of 6) to 9) above, wherein heat treatment is performed at a temperature of 900° C. to 1400° C.

11) The method of producing a tantalum sputtering target according to anyone of 6) to 10) above, wherein, after rolling and heat treatment are performed, surface finishing is performed via machining or polishing.

Effect of the Invention

The tantalum sputtering target of the present invention yields superior effects of reducing the discharge voltage of the tantalum sputtering target so that plasma can be more easily generated and suppressing the voltage drift during deposition by controlling the crystal grain size, or the crystal grain size and the crystal orientation, on the sputtering surface of the target. The tantalum sputtering target of the present invention is particularly effective in forming a diffusion barrier layer made from a Ta film or a TaN film capable of effectively preventing contamination around the wiring caused by the diffusion of active Cu.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One characteristic of the tantalum sputtering target of the present invention is that the average crystal grain size on the sputtering surface thereof is 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and the variation in the crystal grain size is 30 μm or less. The average crystal grain size affects the tantalum sputtering target discharge voltage. In other words, since the discharge voltage can be reduced to stabilize the plasma, and the voltage drift during deposition can be suppressed by adjusting the average crystal grain size to be within the foregoing range, it is possible to suppress the generation of discharge abnormalities during the sputtering process described above. In particular, it is possible to cause the discharge voltage to be 620 V or less and cause the variation in the discharge voltage to be 20 V or less, and the discharge abnormality occurrence rate can thereby be reduced. When the average crystal grain size is outside the range of 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less, in either case the effect of stabilizing the plasma and suppressing the voltage drift during deposition tends to deteriorate.

In addition to the adjustment of the foregoing average crystal grain size, by increasing the orientation rate of the (200) plane and reducing the orientation rate of the (222) plane, the characteristic of suppressing the generation of discharge abnormalities during sputtering can be further improved.

Since the crystal structure of tantalum is a body-centered cubic lattice structure (abbreviated as BCC), the (222) plane has a shorter interatomic distance than the (200) plane, and the (222) plane is in a state where the atoms are more densely packed than the (200) plane. Thus, during sputtering, it is considered that the (222) plane discharges more tantalum atoms than the (200) plane, which in turn causes the sputter rate (deposition rate) to increase.

With the tantalum sputtering target of the present invention, on the sputtering surface of the tantalum sputtering target, the average crystal grain size is 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and the variation in the crystal grain size is 30 μm or less, and furthermore the orientation rate of the (200) plane exceeds 70%, and the orientation rate of the (222) plane is 30% or less. Preferably, the orientation rate of the (200) plane is 80% or more, and the orientation rate of the (222) plane is 20% or less.

By increasing the orientation rate of the (200) plane and reducing the orientation rate of the (222) plane on the sputtering surface as described above, under normal conditions the sputter rate (deposition rate) would deteriorate. Nevertheless, when there is no need to excessively increase the deposition rate, since the tantalum sputtering target discharge voltage can be lowered, there are advantages in that plasma can be more easily generated, and plasma can be stabilized.

Normally, when depositing a tantalum film via sputtering, the voltage and current are adjusted so that the discharge can be maintained at the supplied power that was set. Nevertheless, there are cases where the current decreases due to some reason or other and the voltage increases in order to maintain the power at a constant value, and this kind of state is generally referred to as a discharge abnormality.

The present invention is able to suppress the generation of discharge abnormalities during sputtering as described above by controlling the crystal grain size, or the crystal grain size and the crystal orientation, on the sputtering surface of the tantalum sputtering target, and additionally increasing the orientation rate of the (200) plane and decreasing the orientation rate of the (222) plane as needed, and thereby reduce the discharge voltage of the sputtering target and stabilize the plasma. In particular, it is possible to cause the discharge voltage to be 620 V or less and cause the variation in the discharge voltage to be 20 V or less, and the discharge abnormality occurrence rate can thereby be reduced.

In the present invention, the term “orientation rate” refers to the intensity ratio of a specific plane orientation when the measured intensity of the respective diffraction peaks of (110), (200), (211), (310), (222), (321) obtained with the X-ray diffraction method are standardized, and the sum of the intensities of the respective plane orientations is 100. Note that JCPDS (Joint Committee for Powder Diffraction Standard) was used for the standardization.

For example, the orientation rate (%) of the (200) plane will be {(measured intensity of (200)/JCPDS intensity of (200))/Σ(measured intensity of respective planes/JCPDS intensity of respective planes)}×100.

The tantalum sputtering target of the present invention may be used for forming a diffusion barrier layer made from a Ta film or a TaN film in a copper wiring. Even in cases of introducing nitrogen into the sputtering atmosphere to deposit a TaN film, the sputtering target of the present invention yields superior effects of reducing the discharge voltage of the tantalum sputtering target so that plasma can be more easily generated and improving the stability of plasma by controlling the crystal grain size, or the crystal grain size and the crystal orientation, on the sputtering surface of the target, and additionally increasing the orientation rate of the (200) plane and reducing the orientation rate of the (222) plane. Thus, the present invention can improve the production yield in the formation of copper wirings comprising a diffusion barrier layer made from a Ta film or a TaN film, and in the manufacture of semiconductor devices comprising such as a copper wiring.

The tantalum sputtering target of the present invention is produced according to the following processes. To illustrate an example, foremost, high purity tantalum having a purity of 4N (99.99%) or higher is normally used as the tantalum raw material. The tantalum raw material is melted via electron beam melting or the like and subsequently cast to prepare an ingot or a billet. Subsequently, the ingot or the billet is subject to forging, and recrystallization annealing. Specifically, for example, the ingot or the billet is subject to extend forging—annealing at a temperature of 1100 to 1400° C.—cold forging (primary forging)—annealing at a temperature of recrystallization temperature to 1400° C.—cold forging (secondary forging)—annealing at a temperature of recrystallization temperature to 1400° C.

Cold rolling is subsequently performed. The orientation rate of the tantalum sputtering target of the present invention can be controlled by adjusting the cold rolling conditions. Specifically, a rolling mill roll with a small roll diameter should be used, and preferably the roll diameter is 500 mm or less. Moreover, the rolling speed should be as fast as possible, and preferably 10 m/min or more. In addition, when rolling is only performed once, the reduction is preferably high and in excess of 80%, and when rolling is to be repeated two or more times, the reduction needs to be 60% or higher so that the ultimate thickness of the target becomes the same as the case of only performing rolling once. Desirably, the total amount of reduction exceeds 80%.

Heat treatment is subsequently performed. The orientation rate of the tantalum sputtering target of the present invention can be controlled by adjusting the conditions of the heat treatment performed after cold rolling in addition to adjusting the cold rolling conditions. Specifically, the heat treatment temperature should be high, and preferably 900 to 1400° C. While this will also depend on the amount of strain that is introduced from the rolling process, heat treatment needs to be performed at a temperature of 900° C. or higher in order to obtain a recrystallized structure. Meanwhile, to perform heat treatment at a temperature that exceeds 1400° C. is undesirable in terms of cost. Subsequently, the surface of the target is subject to surface finishing via machining or polishing in order to obtain the final product.

The tantalum sputtering target is produced based on the foregoing production processes, but what is particularly important in the present invention is to control the crystal grain size, or the crystal grain size and the crystal orientation, on the sputtering surface of the target, and to additionally increase the orientation rate of the (200) plane and decrease the orientation rate of the (222) plane in the crystal orientation on the sputtering surface of the target as needed.

The rolling process is mainly responsible for controlling the crystal grain size and the crystal orientation. In the rolling process, it is possible to change the amount and distribution of strain that is introduced from the rolling process by controlling parameters such as the diameter of the rolling mill roll, rolling speed, and reduction, and the orientation rate of the (200) plane and the orientation rate of the (222) plane can thereby be controlled.

In order to effectively adjust the crystal grain size or the orientation rate, the condition setting needs to be repeated a certain number of times, but once the crystal grain size and the orientation rate of the (200) plane and the orientation rate of the (222) plane are adjusted, targets having constant characteristics i.e., characteristics of a constant level can be produced by setting the manufacturing conditions.

Normally, upon producing a target, it is effective to use a rolling mill roll having a rolling mill roll diameter of 500 mm or less, set the rolling speed to 10 m/min or more, set the reduction of 1 pass to 8 to 12%, and set the number of passes to 15 to 25 passes. Nevertheless, the production process is not necessarily limited to the foregoing production process so as long as the production process can achieve the crystal orientation of the present invention. In the series of processes, a condition setting of destroying the cast structure via forging and rolling and sufficiently performing recrystallization is effective. While there is no particular limitation to the roll material (ceramic roll, metal roll) used in the cold rolling process, it is more effective to use a rigid roll.

In addition, after subjecting the molten tantalum ingot or billet to forging, rolling and other processes, the product is desirably subject to recrystallization annealing to obtain a fine and uniform structure.

EXAMPLES

The present invention is now explained based on the Examples. The following Examples are provided to facilitate the understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not in any way limited by these Examples. In other words, modifications and other examples based on the technical concept of the present invention are obviously covered by the present invention.

A tantalum raw material having a purity of 99.995% was subject to electron beam melting and casting to obtain an ingot having a diameter of 195 mmφ. Subsequently, the ingot was subject to extend forging at room temperature to obtain a diameter of 150 mmφ, and the product was subject to recrystallization annealing at a temperature of 1100 to 1400° C. The product was once again subject to forging at room temperature to obtain a thickness of 100 mm and a diameter of 150 mmφ (primary forging), and the product was subject to recrystallization annealing at a temperature of recrystallization temperature to 1400° C. In addition, the product was subject to forging at room temperature to obtain a thickness of 70 to 100 mm and a diameter of 150 to 185 mmφ (secondary forging), and the product was subject to recrystallization annealing at a temperature of recrystallization temperature to 1400° C. to obtain a target material.

Example 1

In Example 1, the obtained target material was subject to cold rolling using a rolling mill roll having a rolling mill roll diameter of 400 mm at a rolling speed of 10 m/min, 20 passes at a reduction of 10%, and a total reduction of 88% to obtain a thickness of 14 mm and a diameter of 520 mmφ. The product was subject to heat treatment at a temperature of 1400° C. Subsequently, the surface of the product was machined and polished to obtain a target.

Based on the foregoing processes, it was possible to obtain a tantalum sputtering target having a crystal structure in which the orientation of the (200) plane is 82.6% and the orientation rate of the (222) plane is 13.4%, an average crystal grain size of 127.1 μm, and a variation in the crystal grain size is 28.0 μm.

Note that the crystal grain size was measured using analySIS FIVE (Soft imaging System) and analyzing the crystal structure photograph taken in a visual field of 1500 μm×1200 μm with an electronic microscope. Moreover, as the variation in the crystal grain size, the crystal grain size at 5 locations on the target plane [center+4 locations (2 locations at the outer periphery in the perpendicular direction, and points that are halfway between the center and the 2 locations at the outer periphery)] was measured, and the average value and the standard deviation were calculated to obtain (variation (%)=standard deviation/average value×100). Measurement was performed in the same manner in the following Examples and Comparative Examples.

As a result of sputtering this sputtering target, the discharge voltage was 615.3 V, the discharge voltage variation was 14.5 V, and the discharge abnormality occurrence rate was favorable at 5.3%. The results are shown in Table 1.

Normally, upon calculating the discharge abnormality occurrence rate, the number of times that the voltage reached 1000 V as the upper limit of the power source is divided by the total number of discharges, and in this Example also, the discharge abnormality occurrence rate was calculated under the same conditions. The tantalum film was deposited under the following conditions (same in the ensuing Examples and Comparative Examples).

<Deposition Conditions>

Power source: DC system

Electrical power: 15 kW

Ultimate vacuum: 5×10⁻⁸ Torr

Atmosphere gas composition: Ar

Sputter gas pressure: 5×10⁻³ Torr

Sputtering time: 15 seconds

Example 2

In Example 2, the obtained target material was subject to cold rolling using a rolling mill roll having a rolling mill roll diameter of 400 mm at a rolling speed of 15 m/min, 25 passes at a reduction of 9%, and a total reduction of 90% to obtain a thickness of 14 mm and a diameter of 520 mmφ. The product was subject to heat treatment at a temperature of 800° C. Subsequently, the surface of the product was machined and polished to obtain a target.

Based on the foregoing processes, it was possible to obtain a tantalum sputtering target having a crystal structure in which the orientation of the (200) plane is 77.6% and the orientation rate of the (222) plane is 7.0%, an average crystal grain size of 66.3 μm, and a variation in the crystal grain size is 19.0 μm.

As a result of sputtering this sputtering target, the discharge voltage was 611.4 V, the discharge voltage variation was 12.6 V, and the discharge abnormality occurrence rate was favorable at 3.1%. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 3

In Example 3, the obtained target material was subject to cold rolling using a rolling mill roll having a rolling mill roll diameter of 400 mm at a rolling speed of 20 m/min, 23 passes at a reduction of 8%, and a total reduction of 85% to obtain a thickness of 14 mm and a diameter of 520 mmφ. The product was subject to heat treatment at a temperature of 1000° C. Subsequently, the surface of the product was machined and polished to obtain a target.

Based on the foregoing processes, it was possible to obtain a tantalum sputtering target having a crystal structure in which the orientation of the (200) plane is 74.1% and the orientation rate of the (222) plane is 11.9%, an average crystal grain size of 80.4 μm, and a variation in the crystal grain size is 25.6 μm.

As a result of sputtering this sputtering target, the discharge voltage was 612.3 V, the discharge voltage variation was 9.8 V, and the discharge abnormality occurrence rate was favorable at 6.4%. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 4

In Example 4, the obtained target material was subject to cold rolling using a rolling mill roll having a rolling mill roll diameter of 500 mm at a rolling speed of 15 m/min, 18 passes at a reduction of 12%, and a total reduction of 90% to obtain a thickness of 14 mm and a diameter of 520 mmφ. The product was subject to heat treatment at a temperature of 900° C. Subsequently, the surface of the product was machined and polished to obtain a target.

Based on the foregoing processes, it was possible to obtain a tantalum sputtering target having a crystal structure in which the orientation of the (200) plane is 71.7% and the orientation rate of the (222) plane is 14.9%, an average crystal grain size of 51.9 μm, and a variation in the crystal grain size is 16.4 μm.

As a result of sputtering this sputtering target, the discharge voltage was 611.8 V, the discharge voltage variation was 17.7 V, and the discharge abnormality occurrence rate was favorable at 4.5%. The results are shown in Table 1.

Example 5

In Example 5, the obtained target material was subject to cold rolling using a rolling mill roll having a rolling mill roll diameter of 500 mm at a rolling speed of 20 m/min, 15 passes at a reduction of 12%, and a total reduction of 85% to obtain a thickness of 14 mm and a diameter of 520 mmφ. The product was subject to heat treatment at a temperature of 1200° C. Subsequently, the surface of the product was machined and polished to obtain a target.

Based on the foregoing processes, it was possible to obtain a tantalum sputtering target having a crystal structure in which the orientation of the (200) plane is 70.3% and the orientation rate of the (222) plane is 16.1%, an average crystal grain size of 98.1 μm, and a variation in the crystal grain size is 24.8 μm.

As a result of sputtering this sputtering target, the discharge voltage was 612.6 V, the discharge voltage variation was 7.6 V, and the discharge abnormality occurrence rate was favorable at 9.6%. The results are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 1

In Comparative Example 1, the obtained target material was subject to cold rolling using a rolling mill roll having a rolling mill roll diameter of 650 mm at a rolling speed of 15 m/min, 10 passes at a reduction of 15%, and a total reduction of 80% to obtain a thickness of 14 mm and a diameter of 520 mmφ. The product was subject to heat treatment at a temperature of 800° C. Subsequently, the surface of the product was machined and polished to obtain a target.

Based on the foregoing processes, it was possible to obtain a tantalum sputtering target having a crystal structure in which the orientation of the (200) plane is 43.6% and the orientation rate of the (222) plane is 39.1%, an average crystal grain size of 74.4 μm, and a variation in the crystal grain size is 48.2 μm.

As a result of sputtering this sputtering target, the discharge voltage was 622.5 V, the discharge voltage variation was 17.0 V, and the discharge abnormality occurrence rate was inferior at 16.6%. The results are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 2

In Comparative Example 2, the obtained target material was subject to cold rolling using a rolling mill roll having a rolling mill roll diameter of 500 mm at a rolling speed of 10 m/min, 11 passes at a reduction of 13%, and a total reduction of 78% to obtain a thickness of 14 mm and a diameter of 520 mmφ. The product was subject to heat treatment at a temperature of 800° C. Subsequently, the surface of the product was machined and polished to obtain a target.

Based on the foregoing processes, it was possible to obtain a tantalum sputtering target having a crystal structure in which the orientation of the (200) plane is 64.8% and the orientation rate of the (222) plane is 15.1%, an average crystal grain size of 64.2 μm, and a variation in the crystal grain size is 49.6 μm.

As a result of sputtering this sputtering target, the discharge voltage was 627.0 V, the discharge voltage variation was 18.0 V, and the discharge abnormality occurrence rate was inferior at 20.5%. The results are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 3

In Comparative Example 3, the obtained target material was subject to cold rolling using a rolling mill roll having a rolling mill roll diameter of 500 mm at a rolling speed of 20 m/min, 23 passes at a reduction of 7%, and a total reduction of 90% to obtain a thickness of 14 mm and a diameter of 520 mmφ. The product was subject to heat treatment at a temperature of 800° C. Subsequently, the surface of the product was machined and polished to obtain a target.

Based on the foregoing processes, it was possible to obtain a tantalum sputtering target having a crystal structure in which the orientation of the (200) plane is 71.2% and the orientation rate of the (222) plane is 18.3%, an average crystal grain size of 39.8 μm, and a variation in the crystal grain size is 10.9 μm.

As a result of sputtering this sputtering target, the discharge voltage was 610.4 V, the discharge voltage variation was 24.2 V, and the discharge abnormality occurrence rate was inferior at 26.2%. The results are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 4

In Comparative Example 4, the obtained target material was subject to cold rolling using a rolling mill roll having a rolling mill roll diameter of 500 mm at a rolling speed of 20 m/min, 9 passes at a reduction of 20%, and a total reduction of 86% to obtain a thickness of 14 mm and a diameter of 520 mmφ. The product was subject to heat treatment at a temperature of 1000° C. Subsequently, the surface of the product was machined and polished to obtain a target.

Based on the foregoing processes, it was possible to obtain a tantalum sputtering target having a crystal structure in which the orientation of the (200) plane is 71.6% and the orientation rate of the (222) plane is 12.1%, an average crystal grain size of 142.0 μm, and a variation in the crystal grain size is 46.8 μm.

As a result of sputtering this sputtering target, the discharge voltage was 603.4 V, the discharge voltage variation was 28.4 V, and the discharge abnormality occurrence rate was inferior at 18.3%. The results are shown in Table 1.

As shown in the foregoing Examples and Comparative Examples, those within the range of the conditions of the present invention yield effects of reducing the discharge voltage of the tantalum sputtering target so that plasma can be more easily generated and improving the stability of the plasma. In other words, in comparison to the Comparative Examples, superior effects are yielded in that the discharge voltage can be reduced, variation in the discharge voltage can be suppressed, and the discharge abnormality occurrence rate can also be reduced.

TABLE 1 Discharge (200) (222) Discharge abnormality orientation orientation Average grain Grain size Discharge voltage occurrence rate (%) rate (%) size (um) variation (um) voltage (V) Maximum (V) Minimum (V) variation (V) rate (%) Example 1 82.6 13.4 127.1 28 615.3 615.1 600.6 14.5 5.3 Example 2 77.6 7 66.3 19 611.4 617.5 604.9 12.6 3.1 Example 3 74.1 11.9 80.4 25.6 612.3 617.2 607.4 9.8 6.4 Example 4 71.7 14.9 51.9 16.4 611.8 619.3 601.6 17.7 4.5 Example 5 70.3 16.1 98.1 24.8 612.6 616.4 608.8 7.6 9.6 Comparative 43.6 39.1 74.4 48.2 622.5 631 614 17 16.6 Example 1 Comparative 64.8 15.1 64.2 49.6 627 636 618 18 20.5 Example 2 Comparative 71.2 18.3 39.8 10.9 610.4 617.8 593.6 24.2 26.2 Example 3 Comparative 71.6 12.1 142 46.8 603.4 620.7 592.3 28.4 18.3 Example 4

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention provides a tantalum sputtering target, and by controlling the crystal grain size, or the crystal grain size and the crystal orientation, on the sputtering surface of the target, effects are yielded in that the discharge voltage of the tantalum sputtering target can be reduced so that plasma can be more easily generated, and the stability of the plasma can be improved. The tantalum sputtering target of the present invention is particularly effective in forming a diffusion barrier layer made from a Ta film or a TaN film capable of effectively preventing contamination around the wiring caused by the diffusion of active Cu. 

1. (canceled)
 2. A tantalum sputtering target, wherein, on a sputtering surface of the tantalum sputtering target, an orientation rate of a (200) plane exceeds 70%, an orientation rate of a (222) plane is 30% or less, an average crystal grain size is 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and a variation in a crystal grain size is 30 μm or less.
 3. A tantalum sputtering target, wherein, on a sputtering surface of the tantalum sputtering target, an orientation rate of a (200) plane is 80% or more, an orientation rate of a (222) plane is 20% or less, an average crystal grain size is 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and a variation in a crystal grain size is 30 μm or less.
 4. A thin film for a diffusion barrier layer formed using the sputtering target according to claim
 1. 5. A semiconductor device that uses the thin film for a diffusion barrier layer according to claim
 4. 6. (canceled)
 7. A method of producing a tantalum sputtering target, wherein a molten tantalum ingot is subject to forging and recrystallization annealing, and thereafter subject to rolling and heat treatment to form a crystal structure having, on a sputtering surface of the target, an orientation rate of a (200) plane that exceeds 70%, an orientation rate of a (222) plane that is 30% or less, an average crystal grain size of 50 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and a variation in a crystal grain size of 30 μm or less.
 8. A method of producing a tantalum sputtering target according to claim 7, wherein the crystal structure has, on the sputtering surface of the target, an orientation rate of a (200) plane that is 80% or more, and an orientation rate of a (222) plane that is 20% or less.
 9. The method of producing a tantalum sputtering target according to claim 8, wherein the rolling is cold rolling is performed using a rolling mill roll having a rolling mill roll diameter of 500 mm or less at a rolling speed of 10 m/min or more and a reduction exceeding 80%.
 10. The method of producing a tantalum sputtering target according to claim 9, wherein the heat treatment is performed at a temperature of 900° C. to 1400° C.
 11. The method of producing a tantalum sputtering target according to claim 10, wherein, after the rolling and heat treatment are performed, surface finishing is performed via machining or polishing.
 12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the rolling is cold rolling performed using a rolling mill roll having a rolling mill roll diameter of 500 mm or less at a rolling speed of 10 m/min or more and a reduction exceeding 80%.
 13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the heat treatment is performed at a temperature of 900° C. to 1400° C.
 14. The method according to claim 7, wherein, after the rolling and heat treatment are performed, surface finishing is performed via machining or polishing. 